Getty Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2025.

The Kansas City Chiefs desperately need to get back in the win column when they host the Detroit Lions in Week 6.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce entered the Sunday Night Football matchup with 22 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns on the season. During the Chiefs’ frustrating 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, Kelce made NFL history.

After catching 7-of-8 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville, he broke the league record for most receptions by a tight end (1,026) through his first 13 seasons. However, Kelce had nothing to celebrate following the defeat.

“We’re moving on,” Kelce said on the latest episode of his “New Heights” podcast. “We got the [expletive] Lions coming in. I don’t need to really talk anymore about the Jags loss. Everybody saw firsthand all the debauchery that (expletive) happened that game. And we just got to be better.”

Kelce caught Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ first pass against the Lions on Sunday, October 12, and kept the momentum going. Before the fourth quarter, he registered five receptions for 70 yards. The NFL announced Kelce officially Jason Witten for the second-most receiving yards in primetime games in NFL history.

However, a crucial catch he made had some fans throwing criticism at the refs.

Fans Accused The Refs For Allowing Chiefs TE Travis To Get Away With A Non-Catch

Early in the third quarter, Mahomes connected with Kelce on third down. The Chiefs quickly lined up for the next play before the refs could review the 35-year-old’s catch, during which some viewers argued Kelce used the ground to keep control of the ball.

One X user wrote, “What’s that sky judge or whatever for? Do they just stop the play and call the ref when it’s not the chiefs? This was obvious.”

One man posted, “Absolutely not a catch. [NBC Sports rules analyst] Terry [McAuley] is a damn idiot saying that he had control. Every week certain teams get these head-scratching calls going their way. It’s match-fixing by the league.”

Another fan argued, “This kinda thing happens frequently, it’s on the lions to challenge/take a timeout before the chiefs run the next play which they failed to do.”

Kansas City capitalized on the drive with running back Marquise “Hollywood” Brown scoring a touchdown and giving them a 20-10 lead.

The Refs Also Called Back Lions QB Jared Goff’s First Quarter TD

The Detroit Lions trying to out-cheat the Chiefs lmaoo

David Montgomery throws a TD to Jared Goff but it was ruled illegal motion. pic.twitter.com/O2UPju2efC

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) October 13, 2025

Tensions were already running high after Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s trick play on the opening offensive drive didn’t count. The score, Goff called a touchdown pass from running back David Montgomery, was called back for illegal motion.

McAuley explained on the broadcast, “He (Goff) takes a position behind the center, he’s gotta step back and pause for a second and establish as a back before he goes in motion. He didn’t. He stayed in motion, this is illegal, this is an illegal formation.”

NBC play-by-play Mike Tirico added, “That’s not reviewable by replay, but the officials can have a conference about it.” After the call was reversed, Detroit settled for a field goal.

One woman posted, “So let me get this straight: The NFL took a TD off the board AFTER THE FACT on a play that’s not reviewable ‘after discussion’ for a man in motion? Goff wasn’t the QB. Montgomery was. Then, they start the playclock while coaches are getting an explanation? KC Refs baby!”

Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Bills, Seahawks and Chiefs. She’s contributed to Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the biggest stars in sports, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks

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